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Researchers from the ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ Medical Centre Utrecht have successfully expanded their in vivo research with New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) with support from the 3Rs Centre Utrecht (3RCU). Tailored guidance for researchers and other stakeholders on the possibilities of NAMs to replace or reduce animal experiments has become more official at the 3RCU with the establishment of Suppo³Rt – a staffed support desk. 

In 2024, 3RCU staff discussed a research proposal with researchers Louise Straatman and Natalia Smith-Cortinez from the ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ Medical Centre (UMC) Utrecht in which they studied the restoration of auditory function (deafness). To do so, mouse experiments were proposed since in vitro models for ‘deafness’ do not exist - yet. 

While discussing their proposal, 3RCU staff took a different approach and helped them to dissect their research questions by focusing on the processes involved in their research rather than on the (clinical) outcome. This approach helped to uncover the two major processes they were interested in, i.e. the potential of stem cells to differentiate into functional hair cells and the restoration of neuronal connectivity in the inner ear. For these processes NAMs could be identified, and contacts were made with researchers with hands-on expertise. 

This has now resulted in a multi-centre, highly collaborative project where a mouse study is combined with innovative stem cell-based models in parallel studies. Effective stimulation of the development and uptake of NAMs requires customization in collaboration with researchers, combined with a deep understanding of the research questions and the available NAMs. This is exactly what we aim to achieve with Suppo³Rt: facilitate access to NAMs experts, for researchers and other stakeholders.

The meetings with the 3Rs Centre Utrecht helped us set up a collaboration platform to develop NAMs for our research question, with international experts in the field. The 3Rs Centre Utrecht was crucial for us to look at our research from another perspective and helped us realize how to tackle our project.

If you have a question on NAMs, or would like the 3RCU to think along with your project, please send an email to 3RCU@uu.nl or check out the information on Suppo3Rt.